USPA Gold Cup

Wellington, FL – March 29, 2021 – The USPA Gold Cup® concluded on Sunday with Scone’s victory over Tonkawa, but the Gauntlet of Polo® carries on as the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® kicked off in full force with two games on Monday. Showcasing the elite level of play that the tournament provides, Coca-Cola defeated Park Place 11-10 in overtime, while Cessna captured their first win of the season, defeating Aspen/Dutta Corp 14-6 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Few games have been decided by smaller margins than the second game of the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® between Coca-Cola and Park Place. Shooting nearly identical percentages from the field and penalty line, the only difference proved to be the golden goal by Mackenzie Weisz one minute and 45 seconds into overtime. All eight players found the scoresheet, including four goals from Nico Pieres in his return to play for Coca-Cola, as Coca-Cola emerged as the winner in the hard-fought match.

Trading penalty conversions to start the game, the remainder of the first chukker resulted in the two teams matching each other stride-for-stride, tied at 2-2 after field goals from Gillian Johnston and Matt Coppola. Coca-Cola had their opportunities to take the lead, winning all five throw-ins in the first chukker, but could not utilize the extra possessions against a tough Park Place defense. Ulloa and Coppola played well off each other in the final two chukkers of the first half, combining for four goals, letting Britos lead them to goal with the pass to pull ahead by one, holding a narrow 6-5 lead at halftime.

Making their first run of the game, Coca-Cola came out of the tent playing a complete team game to produce a three-goal chukker, while more importantly keeping Park Place scoreless. Two field goals from Pieres along with one from Johnston highlighted Coca-Cola’s strong chukker, with de Lusarreta and Weisz both collecting assists. As was the case throughout the game, a swift response was seen from their opponent when Park Place scored three goals of their own, led by 10-goaler Ulloa. Scoring two goals, Ulloa also found Andrey Borodin for his first goal, bringing the game even once again. Britos opened the scoring in the sixth chukker as Park Place had their sights set on the victory but inside the final minute, Johnston worked the ball downfield and scored her third goal to send the game into overtime. After a foul call against Park Place gave possession back to Coca-Cola, a long pass downfield from Pieres found Weisz and he was able to hit the ball just inside the post for the game-winning goal and the 11-10 victory.

All four of Coca-Cola‘s players found the scoresheet to contribute to the win. ©Alex Pacheco

The second game saw Cessna face Aspen/Dutta Corp for the second consecutive game and they were able to avenge their loss in the USPA Gold Cup® in a dominant 14-6 win. Seven goals from Mariano Obregon Jr. highlighted a proficient Cessna attack that led from start to finish, shooting above 50% from the field and converting all but one of their six penalty attempts. Colombres was the only scorer for Aspen/Dutta Corp, responsible for all six goals, but their defense could not slow a determined Cessna offense in the defeat.

The tone was set in the opening chukker by Cessna, building a 3-0 lead on goals from Ferrario, Zenni and Obregon Jr. by completing accurate runs to goal. Despite the slow start, Aspen/Dutta Corp stormed back in the second chukker behind the play of Colombres. After adding a goal from the field and penalty line, Colombres lined up a shot from distance with time running out in the chukker and finding the goal to pull his team within one, trailing 4-3. Foul trouble to end the half for Aspen/Dutta Corp pushed the possession back to Cessna and they capitalized with a three-goal chukker, two coming from the penalty line to restore control of the game, holding a four-goal advantage at halftime.

Cessna captured their first win of the season, defeating Aspen/Dutta Corp 14-6. ©Alex Pacheco

Continuing to dominate possession, Cessna quickly added to their lead in the opening minutes of the second half, receiving a field goal and penalty conversion from Obregon Jr. Completing a run of six unanswered goals, Ferrario extended Cessna’s lead to seven as Aspen/Dutta Corp struggled to generate offense from the field, producing just one field goal over the final four chukkers. Colombres continued to battle hard, bringing his goal total to six, but the well-rounded attack of Cessna proved to be too much in the game. Camp Campbell, Zenni, and Obregon Jr. added one more goal each in the sixth chukker to complete the impressive 14-6 victory.

Camp Campbell and Jared Zenni celebrating Cessna‘s victory. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Wellington, FL – March 28, 2021 – The finale of the second leg of the Gauntlet of Polo® was played on a hot, sunny day at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), with Scone producing one of their best performances of the season, defeating Tonkawa 13-10 on the Home of the U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1 to raise the USPA Gold Cup® and walk away with the $100,000 prize.

Scone asserted their offense at the beginning of the final, scoring seven of the first eight goals to leave Tonkawa trailing from behind throughout the game. The fast pace set by Scone resulted in four early penalty goals from Adolfo Cambiaso and Peke Gonzalez, adding to a strong open play performance from Poroto Cambiaso that ultimately allowed Scone to build and maintain their large lead. The trio, along with David Paradice, was able to turn their focus to defense after the offensive outburst, holding Tonkawa to just three first-half goals. With the victory, Adolfo Cambiaso captures his 15th USPA Gold Cup® title, but it may be one of the most memorable, playing alongside son Poroto for their first victory together at IPC.

Winning the first throw-in, Scone worked the ball downfield, and after missing their first attempt at goal, they regained possession, and Adolfo Cambiaso received a Penalty 1 to open the scoring. Unable to convert consecutive penalty attempts from the 60-yard line, Tonkawa was left scoreless in the first seven minutes as Scone added to their lead. Paradice left the ball in front of goal for an assist to Poroto Cambiaso, and before the end of the first chukker, Poroto struck again for his second goal and a 3-0 lead. Tonkawa fought hard to match the pace set by Scone, finally breaking through for their first goal of the game on a field goal from Caset, but the accurate penalty shooting of Scone changed the opening half. Converting back-to-back Penalty 4 conversions, Adolfo Cambiaso gave Scone the commanding 7-1 lead, putting them in a position to focus on containing Tonkawa’s elite duo of Caset and Francisco Elizalde. Beginning to chip away at the deficit, Tonkawa’s Elizalde brought his team within four, but on the final play of the half, Adolfo Cambiaso broke free for his fourth goal of the game, sending Scone into the half with the five-goal advantage.

With the victory, Adolfo Cambiaso captures his 15th USPA Gold Cup® title, but it may be one of the most memorable, playing alongside son Poroto for their first victory together at IPC. ©Alex Pacheco

Tournament scoring leader Caset sought to bring Tonkawa back in the game in a determined start to the second half that saw the opening few minutes go in Tonkawa’s favor, pulling one goal closer, but their inaccurate shooting ultimately prevented them from pulling closer. Converting just 33% of their shot attempts through five chukkers compared to 50% for Scone, Tonkawa struggled to slow the father-son duo of Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, who scored two goals each in the fourth and fifth chukkers to enter the final seven minutes with a 12-5 lead. Gonzalez opened the sixth chukker with a goal for Scone, all but securing the victory as time ticked down. Tonkawa fought until the final whistle, scoring two field goals and adding three penalty conversions, but the late-game run was not enough to pull within reach as the Scone organization celebrated their first USPA Gold Cup® title, defeating Tonkawa 13-10.

Most Valuable Player was awarded to 15-year-old Poroto Cambiaso, finishing with four goals in the victory. Best Playing Pony honors went to Adolfo Cambiaso and David Stirling’s Monjita Coronada, while the Argentine Bred Best Playing Pony was given to Lovelocks Camuserich.

La Indiana secured the first win of the 2021 CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® over Santa Clara. ©Alex Pacheco

Earlier in the day, the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship® began with La Indiana scoring a season-high 18 goals behind a dominant 11-2 second half to defeat Santa Clara 18-9. Accurate 12 for 17 shooting along with nine goals from Polito Pieres contributed to a strong final three chukkers for La Indiana as they limited Santa Clara to just three shots while dominating possession to capture the convincing victory.

Racing out to a 4-0 victory in the first chukker, all four coming from Pieres, La Indiana seemed destined to control the game from the first throw-in, but Santa Clara provided a determined response in the second chukker. Holding La Indiana without a shot, Santa Clara attacked relentlessly, pressuring the La Indiana defense and receiving three penalty attempts, converted for three goals by Felipe Vercellino to tie the game at 5-5. At the end of the first half, it was either team’s game as La Indiana and Santa Clara remained tied, trading one field goal and penalty goal each in the third chukker of what was appearing to be a close first game in the CaptiveOne U.S. Open Polo Championship®.

Polito Pieres contributed to La Indiana‘s total of 18 goals with 9 of his own. ©Alex Pacheco

The momentum swung in La Indiana’s favor in the opening stages of the second half as their accurate shooting began to wear Santa Clara down. Converting three of their four shot attempts, La Indiana’s Jeff Hall contributed two goals to give his team the two-goal lead, which was quickly extended to five in a decisive fifth chukker. Pinned in their own half, Santa Clara was held to just one penalty goal while Escobar and Pieres pushed La Indiana’s attack forward to combine for three goals, leaving Santa Clara in desperate need of offense with one chukker remaining. The frustration for Santa Clara boiled over in the sixth chukker as Felipe Vercellino was sent off for four minutes after multiple yellow cards, leaving Santa Clara one player down and La Indiana to take advantage, scoring five consecutive goals to finish the game and claim the first game of the tournament with the impressive 18-9 victory.

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Wellington, FL – March 24, 2021 – The highly-anticipated semifinals of the 2021 USPA Gold Cup® lived up to the hype as Tonkawa, La Indiana, Scone, and Park Place battled for their place in Sunday’s final. Withstanding a second-half surge from La Indiana that sent the game into overtime, Tonkawa’s Francisco Elizalde scored the golden goal, giving Tonkawa the 13-12 victory. In a rematch of the C.V. Whitney Cup® final, Scone avenged their loss, holding off a last-second scoring attempt from Park Place to claim the 9-8 victory at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

The first semifinal was a tale of two halves with Tonkawa building a six-goal lead in the first half and La Indiana storming back to force overtime in the final two chukkers. After shooting seven for nine in the first half, Tonkawa was held without a field goal over the final three chukkers, missing all seven shot attempts until Elizalde broke through in overtime. Relying on their 10-goaler Polito Pieres in the comeback, La Indiana’s accurate shooting from the field and the penalty line pulled them even but ended up a goal short in a thrilling first semifinal.

Two high-powered offenses promised an exciting game and it began in the first chukker with six combined goals. Pieres opened the scoring for La Indiana, but a Penalty 2 conversion from Caset, followed by Jeff Hildebrand’s first goal pushed Tonkawa into the lead. The individual performance from Caset in the first seven minutes where he scored three goals gave Tonkawa the early edge, with La Indiana trying to return to the USPA Gold Cup® final. Building on their momentum from the first chukker, Tonkawa’s Caset and Elizalde added one goal each to extend their consecutive goal streak to four as La Indiana struggled to convert their chances around goal. The game ultimately changed in the third chukker as Tonkawa dominated the final stages of the first half, converting four of their five shot attempts to outscore La Indiana 4-1 in the chukker and exit the half with a commanding 10-4 lead.

Tonkawa will face Scone in the USPA Gold Cup® Final on Sunday. ©Alex Pacheco

Trading Penalty 2 conversions for the only offense in the fourth chukker, La Indiana was left facing a six-goal deficit with just two chukkers remaining against a Tonkawa team determined to make their first final in the Gauntlet of Polo®. A determined La Indiana team came alive in the fifth chukker, holding Tonkawa off the scoreboard and following the lead of Pieres, who scored three of his team’s four goals in the chukker, quickly bringing the deficit to just two goals and setting up a tense final chukker. Pieres struck again for La Indiana’s fifth consecutive goal, pulling within one as they continued to chip away at the lead. With two minutes left in the game, Michael Bickford jumped on a loose ball and shot the ball off the post and in, sending the game into overtime. Beginning with a throw-in just 40 yards from their own goal, La Indiana was unable to escape their own half as Tonkawa’s Elizalde wove through the defense and hit a neckshot just inside the post to claim the hard-fought 13-12 victory.

Facing each other for the first time since the C.V. Whitney Cup® final, Park Place and Scone were caught in another battle that once again came down to the final second. Tied after each of the first three chukkers and both shooting above 50% from the field, little separated the two teams until a 2-0 fourth chukker in favor of Scone gave them the edge for the remainder of the game. Adolfo Cambiaso was crucial throughout the second half, scoring four of his team’s five goals to help overcome two for six penalty shooting for Scone and survive a late push for Park Place that had the ball in front of their goal as time expired.

Park Place defeated Scone in the C.V. Whitney Cup® Final, but Scone redeemed themselves Wednesday at IPC. ©Alex Pacheco

The opening chukker set the tone for the match as both Scone and Park Place were tightly marked, making scoring chances hard to come by. Juan Britos opened the scoring on the receiving end of a pass from Hilario Ulloa, but before the end of the chukker, Peke Gonzalez provided a response for Scone, leaving the score at 1-1. The duo of Adolfo Cambiaso and Gonzalez were matched by Park Place’s Ulloa and Britos in a back-and-forth game. Two quick goals from Scone gave them a two-goal lead for the first time, but Park Place produced a run of their own on consecutive field goals to restore the tie. Two missed penalty attempts in the first half kept Scone from taking the lead into halftime as the teams remained deadlocked after the third chukker, setting up a high-pressure second half to reach the final.

Scone made the first push of the game in the fourth chukker, holding Park Place off the scoresheet and led offensively by their 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso. A Penalty 4 conversion for Cambiaso, along with a field goal from Gonzalez resulted in Scone holding the 6-4 lead and leaving Park Place to fight from behind for the first time in the game. Cambiaso continued his strong play, scoring to begin the fifth chukker and looking to pull away, but after a goal-line stand by Ulloa, Coppola completed the play on the other end, bringing Park Place back within one. Ulloa tied the game in the early stages of the sixth chukker, but after scoring to put Scone back in the lead, Adolfo Cambiaso left the ball in front of goal and Gonzalez converted the neckshot to seemingly seal the win. However, with time running out, Park Place received a Penalty 1 with seven seconds remaining and a chance to tie the game. A long hit from Coppola put the ball in front of the Scone goal, but it was unable to be converted as Scone celebrated the 9-8 victory and will meet Tonkawa in the USPA Gold Cup® final, where a new champion will be crowned.

Adolfo Cambiaso celebrated Scone‘s win and place in the USPA Gold Cup® Final. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.

Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Wellington, FL – March 21, 2021 – The final day of bracket play of the USPA Gold Cup® showcased the top four teams in Bracket II fighting for a spot in the semifinals at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. In the opening game of the day, Scone overwhelmed Pilot to capture the 13-6 victory, while in the feature game of the week, Coca-Cola overcame an injury to Diego Cavanagh to defeat La Indiana 14-10 on the Home of the U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1.

The much-anticipated return of Facundo Pieres highlighted the match-up against Scone, but a dominant performance from the trio of Adolfo Cambiaso, Peke Gonzalez, and Poroto Cambiaso led Scone to victory. Controlling possession throughout, Scone held Pilot to just one field goal on 10 shot attempts while they were led offensively by six goals from Poroto Cambiaso. Heavily outshooting Pilot 21-10 and shooting a perfect 4 for 4 from the penalty line, Scone completed the impressive 13-6 victory.

Wasting little time after missing three games, Facundo Pieres scored the opening goal to give Pilot the early 1-0 lead. A Penalty 4 conversion from Adolfo Cambiaso provided Scone’s response in an evenly matched first chukker with neither team able to grab control of the play. That changed in the second chukker as Pilot was held without a shot and Scone’s offense began to take charge of the game, receiving two field goals from Poroto Cambiaso to build a two-goal lead. Finishing the half with five consecutive goals, Scone kept Pilot in their defensive half while Poroto Cambiaso produced one of his best showings of the season, stealing the ball from Facundo Pieres and adding his third and fourth goals to lead 6-2.

The father-son Cambiaso duo celebrate their win with Scone. ©Alex Pacheco

Unable to generate any offense from the field, Pilot ended Scone’s run with a Penalty 4 conversion from Gonzalito Pieres, but it was a brief reprieve from the Scone attack, who continued to pressure Pilot and extend their lead. Two goals from Adolfo Cambiaso concluded the fourth chukker, leaving Scone in full control holding a five-goal advantage and maintaining consistent possession of the ball. In need of offense, Pilot produced two shots at goal in the fifth chukker but missed the mark on both, dashing any hopes of a comeback as Scone pushed their lead to six after a goal and an assist from Peke Gonzalez. Two penalty conversions for Pilot in the sixth chukker proved to be their only offense as Poroto Cambiaso finished a strong performance with two more goals in the 13-6 victory for Scone.

The feature game of the week between Coca-Cola and La Indiana had implications on the semifinal with a La Indiana victory pushing them into the semifinals while a Coca-Cola victory would set up a three-team shootout with Scone. Leading from start to finish, Coca-Cola overcame an injury to Diego Cavanagh and saw Francisco Elizalde step in for the 9-goaler and have a significant impact against La Indiana. Leading all players with six goals despite not playing until the start of the third chukker, Elizalde filled in admirably and provided a spark for Coca-Cola as they dominated possession in the 14-10 win.

Coca-Cola‘s victory instigated a three-team shootout this Monday. ©Alex Pacheco

Determined to fight for their place in the semifinals, Coca-Cola raced out of the gate with a three-goal first chukker, taking advantage of two La Indiana fouls to convert a Penalty 4 and Penalty 2 attempt from Cavanagh and Mackenzie Weisz. Although they were limited to just one shot attempt, La Indiana’s Polito Pieres took advantage of the opportunity that resulted in a 3-1 difference on the scoreboard. Two quick goals for Coca-Cola to start the second chukker pushed their lead to four as La Indiana struggled to find their footing, but before the end of the chukker, La Indiana found some momentum thanks to a penalty conversion from Pieres and field goal from Escobar. An injury forced Cavanagh from the game as Coca-Cola brought in Elizalde and, despite the new team, he made an immediate impact. Receiving two passes from Julian de Lusarreta, Elizalde found instant chemistry, adding two goals to give Coca-Cola the 7-4 lead at halftime.

Continuing his impressive substitute performance, Elizalde converted all three shot attempts in an exceptional fourth chukker for Coca-Cola as they took control against the previously undefeated La Indiana team, building a significant 11-6 advantage on the scoreboard. Facing an urgent situation and in need of offense, La Indiana came alive in the fifth chukker by holding Coca-Cola scoreless and relying on the duo of Pieres and Escobar to score three unanswered goals and pull within two. With their sights set on a comeback, La Indiana struggled to keep possession in the final chukker as Coca-Cola effectively managed their lead to complete the 14-10 victory.

Francisco Elizalde captured Most Valuable Player while Open Reebok, played by Elizalde and owned by Nico Pieres, won Best Playing Pony. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Wellington, FL – March 20, 2021 – The final day of play in Bracket I of the USPA Gold Cup® determined the seeding of the four teams, with Park Place and Tonkawa battling for the top seed. The first game of the day resulted in Aspen/Dutta Corp capturing their first victory, defeating Cessna 11-10, while Tonkawa and Park Place battled into overtime at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, where Tonkawa completed their comeback to capture the 11-10 victory and the #1 seed entering the semifinals.

Fighting for their first win in the tournament, Aspen/Dutta Corp and Cessna remained close throughout, never separated by more than three goals in the evenly matched game. Despite the close game, Aspen/Dutta Corp did not trail in the game, taking their one-goal advantage on handicap and remaining one step ahead of Cessna due to the eight-goal performance from Gringo Colombres. Despite shooting much more efficiently from the field, foul trouble hurt Cessna in the game, conceding eight penalty attempts and six goals to Aspen/Dutta Corp who relied on the source of offense to lead them to the 11-10 victory.

A quick start for Aspen/Dutta Corp produced a three-goal lead as they added to their lead on handicap with a field goal and Penalty 4 conversion from Colombres. Cessna struggled to find their footing early with six combined fouls starting and stopping play in the first chukker. Obregon Jr. converted a crucial Penalty 4 attempt to end the chukker, providing some momentum for Cessna. Trading penalty attempts, Colombres and Obregon Jr. kept the deficit at two, but Cessna was able to inch closer on Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario’s first goal of the game. Colombres continued to pace the Aspen/Dutta Corp offense, accounting for every one of his team’s goals in the first half, while Cessna was unable to produce enough scoring opportunities to pull even, trailing 6-5 at halftime.

Aspen/Dutta Corp and Cessna remained close throughout, never separated by more than three goals in the evenly matched game. ©Alex Pacheco

Foul trouble for Cessna proved to be a factor at the start of the second half, conceding two Penalty 2 conversions to Colombres, seeing their deficit grow back to two. With their sights set on their first victory, Aspen/Dutta Coro pressured Cessna in the fifth chukker, trying to pull away with six shots at goal, but inaccurate one for six shooting kept Cessna within reach. Timmy Dutta scored his first goal for Aspen/Dutta Corp, but Cessna responded with one goal each from Jared Zenni and Ferrario. Completing an exceptional performance, Colombres found Alberdi with a pass to seal the victory for Aspen/Dutta Corp with two late goals not enough in the 11-10 defeat.

The two top teams in Bracket I met in the final game of the bracket to determine seeding for the semifinals and it was the relentless attack of Tonkawa that ultimately was the difference in the overtime victory. Park Place held control throughout the game with an efficient attack that shot 57% from the field and converted both penalty attempts, while focusing defensively on slowing down Gauntlet of Polo® scoring leader Sapo Caset, which they did effectively by holding him to just two goals. However, six goals from Francisco Elizalde and a strong final chukker for Tonkawa allowed them to fight back and win on the first play of overtime to take the #1 seed in Bracket I.

Tonkawa completed their comeback to capture the 11-10 victory. ©Alex Pacheco

Making his first appearance of the season, Andrey Borodin returned to the Park Place line-up and his team produced a strong start with Ulloa and Britos collecting a goal and an assist each to build a 2-1 lead. Holding the potent Tonkawa attack scoreless in the second chukker, Park Place extended their lead to three, led by the play of Ulloa, who continued to provide offense both individually and by way of the pass. Converting just two of their 10 shots in the first half, Tonkawa received one goal each from Elizalde and Caset but were unable to pull any closer by halftime, trailing 6-3.

Finding their first momentum of the game, Tonkawa provided a determined start to the second half with Elizalde stepping up with a goal and an assist as part of a three-goal chukker that brought Tonkawa within one. Undeterred, Park Place turned to their 10-goaler Ulloa in the fifth chukker, scoring three consecutive goals and providing a dynamic attack that left Park Place back ahead by three with one chukker remaining. Quiet throughout the early stages of the game, Lucas Escobar made a significant impact for Tonkawa in the sixth chukker, scoring two goals, the second of which tied the game and sent the result into overtime. Just seconds into overtime, a long pass from Elizalde was placed right in front of the goal and it was Escobar who sent it through the goal, securing the 11-10 overtime victory for Tonkawa.

A strong final chukker for Tonkawa allowed them to fight back and win on the first play of overtime to take the #1 seed in Bracket I. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Wellington, FL – March 17, 2021 – The 2021 USPA Gold Cup® continued at the International Polo Club Palm Beach on Wednesday with a Bracket II play-off game between Pilot and Santa Clara, with the winner advancing to the third round. In a thrilling match, overtime was needed to determine the winner, and it was ultimately decided on a Penalty 2 for Gonzalito Pieres as he converted the opportunity, sending Pilot into the next round with the 12-11 victory.

Without their 10-goaler Facundo Pieres for the third consecutive game, Pilot ran into a balanced Santa Clara team that had all four of their players score at least two goals, but received another strong performance from Gonzalito Pieres, who finished with a game-high nine goals. Tied at five different moments in the game, the outcome could have gone either way with Santa Clara producing fewer chances at goal but shooting a very efficient 70% from the field. Decided by the smallest of margins, the 5 for 6 penalty shooting of Pieres, including the overtime Penalty 2 conversion, gave Pilot the narrow victory.

The evenly-matched contest was seen from the opening throw-in as Pilot and Santa Clara battled throughout the first chukker. With neither team able to score from the field, it was Pieres who gave Pilot a slim 1-0 lead on a Penalty 4 conversion, the only offense through the first seven minutes. Continuing to step up in the absence of brother Facundo, Gonzalito Pieres doubled Pilot’s lead to two, but foul trouble in the second chukker allowed Santa Clara to pull even, adding two penalty goals from Felipe Vercellino, along with a field goal from Luis Escobar to tie the game at 3-3. A game of contrasting playing styles saw Pilot continue to work tirelessly off the ball to free up space for Pieres, while Santa Clara used all four players. The result was the same as the teams remained deadlocked at 5-all entering the second half.

It was a well-matched game, with the scores ties at five different occasions. ©Alex Pacheco

Fighting some foul trouble of their own, Santa Clara conceded three penalties over the fourth and fifth chukkers, but matched Pilot stride-for-stride thanks to accurate shooting from the field. Scoring on five of their first six shot attempts of the second half, two each from Escobar and Will Johnston, Santa Clara continued to produce from the field, carrying some momentum into the final stages of the game against a Pilot team that had received seven goals from Gonzalito Pieres through five chukkers. Pilot dealt the first blow in the sixth chukker as Pieres scored from the field, but Santa Clara provided a response from the penalty line, where Vercellino converted a safety to tie the game for a fifth time. With time running down, Pieres broke free for a breakaway, but the head of his mallet broke to end his run.

Time expired to send the game into overtime, with both teams battling to advance in the tournament. Shortly into overtime, a turnover allowed Lucas James to jump on the loose ball and catch Santa Clara for a foul in front of goal, resulting in a Penalty 2 attempt for Pieres. Placing the ball through the goal posts, Pieres’ ninth goal was the difference in the exciting 12-11 victory for Pilot.

Pilot will advance to the third round of the 2021 USPA Gold Cup® thanks to their win. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Wellington, FL – March 16, 2021 – The second round of play in Bracket I of the 2021 USPA Gold Cup® produced the first set of semifinalists in the tournament after Tonkawa defeated Cessna 9-7 and Park Place captured the 10-6 win over Aspen/Dutta Corp. With the victories, Tonkawa and Park Place improved to 2-0 records securing the top two seeds with the winner of the bracket to be determined when the two teams meet on Saturday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Facing a tough challenge from Cessna, Tonkawa captured their fourth consecutive win in the Gauntlet of Polo® as Sapo Caset continued his incredible scoring pace, finishing with eight goals while also assisting on his team’s ninth goal. Matching Tonkawa from the field, Cessna remained a step behind in the game by conceding three first half penalty goals to Caset which proved to be the difference in a match that came down to the final seconds. Converting just two of their final 11 shot attempts, Cessna fell just short in the narrow 9-7 defeat.

Playing in his second game, Camp Campbell found his footing at the 22-goal level, scoring two goals in the first chukker for Cessna as they held an early 3-2 lead after a two-goal response from Caset. Finding an effective strategy utilizing Campbell in the #1 position, Cessna added to their lead on Campbell’s third goal, while Jared Zenni converted a Penalty 2 with Cessna setting their sights on their first victory. Accounting for all five Tonkawa goals in the first half, Caset brought Tonkawa even in the third chukker with two goals, while their defensive pressure increased on Cessna, holding them scoreless to end the half tied 5-all.

Tonkawa captured their fourth consecutive win in the Gauntlet of Polo®. ©Alex Pacheco

Fighting hard to stay in the lead, Cessna was unable to hold off a determined Tonkawa team that held them off the scoreboard for the second consecutive chukker. With the chance to take their first lead of the game, Francisco Elizalde was on the receiving end of a Caset pass, edging Tonkawa into the lead at 6-5. Caset capped off the fourth chukker with Tonkawa’s fourth unanswered goal, leaving them ahead by two entering the final stages of the game. Resetting, Cessna’s Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario broke through from the field to gain some momentum and pull within one as their defense stepped up and held the potent Tonkawa attack without a goal in the fifth chukker, resulting in an exciting finish in the first game of the day. Just moments into the sixth chukker, Ferrario struck again, tying the game at 7-7, but it was short-lived as Caset stepped into the spotlight again. Restoring Tonkawa’s lead, time ticked down with Cessna trying urgently to send the game into overtime but a late Elizalde steal resulted in a breakaway for Caset and he sealed the 9-7 victory as time ran out.

Looking to join Tonkawa at the top of Bracket I and secure a spot in the semifinals, Park Place produced a dominant performance against Aspen/Dutta Corp, heavily outshooting them 16-4 over the first four chukkers, not conceding a field goal until the fifth chukker. Park Place utilized a possession-based attack that saw guarded runs from Hilario Ulloa leading to six goals, with his teammates working effectively off the ball. An organized defense led by Matt Coppola limited any opportunities for Aspen/Dutta Corp as they were not able to find any offense until the final two chukkers in the 10-6 loss.

Park Place produced a dominant performance against Aspen/Dutta Corp. ©Alex Pacheco

A back and forth start to the game displayed the two teams finding the pace and remaining tightly marked as the only goal in the first chukker came from Ulloa, tying the score at 1-1 with Aspen/Dutta Corp starting with a one-goal advantage on handicap. The Park Place offense came alive for the remainder of the second half, led by two goals from Juan Britos as part of a 3-0 second chukker that saw Aspen/Dutta Corp remain pinned in their own half, unable to break away for runs past the Park Place defense. Completing an exceptional first half, Ulloa and Coppola added one goal each for Park Place while holding Aspen/Dutta Corp scoreless, resulting in the 6-2 lead.

The relentless pressure of Park Place carried into the second half, outshooting Aspen/Dutta Corp 5-1 in the fourth chukker, but inaccurate shooting kept the deficit from growing significantly as Park Place extended their lead to five. Aspen/Dutta Corp’s struggles to maintain possession and generate enough scoring chances to match Park Place proved to be the story of the game. Finding a little bit of life in the fifth and sixth chukkers, Aspen/Dutta Corp traded goals with Park Place, receiving one each from Timmy Dutta and Stewart Armstrong, but faced a five-goal difference on the scoreboard with one chukker remaining. Two quick penalty conversions for Gringo Colombres raised some doubt to the outcome, but Ulloa received a Penalty 1 to seal the victory and send Park Place to the top of Bracket I with Tonkawa.

The relentless pressure of Park Place carried into the second half, outshooting Aspen/Dutta Corp 5-1 in the fourth chukker. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.

Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Wellington, FL – March 14, 2021 – The battle between the top two offenses in the Gauntlet of Polo® kicked off the second round of the USPA Gold Cup® today, producing one of the most exciting games of the season thus far with La Indiana withstanding the late pressure from Scone to capture the 13-11 victory. The feature game of the week on the Home of the U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1 resulted in a win for PIlot after securing a 12-10 victory against Coca-Cola at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

A hard-fought opening game between La Indiana and Scone displayed an elite level of polo on both sides of the ball with scoring opportunities needing to be earned. A six-goal second chukker for La Indiana gave them an advantage that they held throughout most of the game, but the penalty shooting of Peke Gonzalez and Adolfo Cambiaso, converting five of their final six opportunities, brought Scone even during the late stages of the game. A resilient defense from La Indiana, including a crucial final minute backhand from Michael Bickford, along with three goals from Jeff Hall in the final two chukkers gave La Indiana the 13-11 victory to remain undefeated.

The opening chukker set the tone of the game as the two teams were evenly matched and the only goal came from Poroto Cambiaso to give Scone the narrow one-goal lead. Missing two penalty attempts, both from 60 yards, Scone was unable to extend their lead further as La Indiana came alive in a dominant second chukker. A complete team effort resulted in La Indiana scoring six consecutive goals on two penalty conversions and perfect 4 for 4 shooting from the field, three of which were assisted on by Pieres to stun Scone and leave them trailing 6-2, their biggest deficit at any point in the Gauntlet. Holding La Indiana to just one goal in the third chukker, Scone fought back to cut the deficit to two after penalty conversions from Adolfo Cambiaso and Gonzalez, leaving the score at 7-5 at halftime.

Nico Escobar and Michael Bickford celebrate La Indiana‘s victory. ©Alex Pacheco

A defensive start to the second half displayed limited chances for both teams as Polito Pieres and Poroto Cambiaso traded goals, leaving La Indiana ahead by two. Play opened up in a fast-paced fifth chukker that produced a combined seven goals, but it was Scone who chipped away at their deficit thanks to three goals from Adolfo Cambiaso, pulling within one entering the final chukker. In the opening play of the sixth chukker, Poroto Cambiaso finally brought Scone back into a tie at 11-11, leaving the final six minutes to determine the winner. After determined runs from both teams, it was La Indiana’s defense that stood tall, thwarting multiple Scone runs with a Penalty 3 conversion from Pieres placing La Indiana back in the lead. Peke Gonzalez made one final run for Scone, but Bickford hit a critical backhand in front of his own goal to secure the victory as Hall scored with time expiring to complete the 13-11 victory.

The feature game of the week pitted Coca-Cola against a Pilot team without Facundo Pieres and searching for their first win of the tournament. A clean game held Pilot without a penalty attempt the entire game, but in the most accurate performance of the season, Pilot converted 86% of their shots from the field, receiving five goals each from Lucas James and Gonzalito Pieres to defeat Coca-Cola. Overcoming their early struggles from the field, Coca-Cola challenged Pilot late but ultimately trailed from the opening goal in the 12-10 defeat.

Pilot bested Coca-Cola by two goals to win 12-10 during Sunday‘s feature game. ©Alex Pacheco

After scoring 10 goals in his last game, Gonzalito Pieres picked up where he left off scoring a goal in the first chukker, however he added to his performance by using the pass to assist on goals from James and Matias Gonzalez as part of a 3-0 first chukker in favor of Pilot. Pieres’ second goal completed the four-goal run for Pilot to begin the game as Gillian Johnston finally ended the run, leaving the score at 4-1. With just four fouls in the first half, the difference on the scoreboard came down to accuracy from the field as Pilot finished with a 7-4 advantage, converting seven of their nine shots.

Trailing throughout, Coca-Cola set their sights on closing the gap at the start of the second half, beginning to translate their opportunities from the field into goals. Johnston, Weisz and de Lusarreta scored as part of a three-goal fourth chukker to dramatically change the game and pull Coca-Cola within one. Despite recording the first penalty goal of the game, Cavanagh’s Coca-Cola team saw their deficit grow back to three as the duo of James and Pieres continued to take advantage of each run to goal for Pilot. James scored back-to-back goals to begin the sixth chukker, securing the 12-10 victory for Pilot and the honor of Most Valuable Player for his five-goal performance. Best Playing Pony was awarded to Open So Easy, played and owned by Gonzalito Pieres.

The winning Pilot team, pictured with Martin S. Cregg, Chairman of Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, during the awards ceremony. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

Wellington, FL – March 11, 2021 – Beginning their quest as the only team that can capture the Gauntlet of Polo®, Park Place continued their elite play from the C.V. Whitney Cup® to capture the 11-6 victory over Cessna in their first game of the USPA Gold Cup®. Scone followed with a successful debut, bouncing back from the heart-breaking overtime loss in last Sunday’s final to defeat Santa Clara 13-8 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Just four days from their exhilarating victory in the C.V. Whitney Cup®, Park Place needed the first half to rediscover their form, producing a stagnant offense that ultimately came to life at the start of the second half against Cessna. Producing an even eight shot attempts each in the first half, Park Place outshot Cessna 16-2 over the final three chukkers by dominating possession and leaving Cessna with little opportunity to match them. Ulloa produced another strong performance for Park Place with a game-high six goals, pushing their win streak to five in the Gauntlet of Polo®.

With new addition Edward ‘Camp’ Campbell, who was replacing father Chip, Cessna got off to a quick start behind the play of Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario, who accounted for both Cessna goals in the opening chukker. Organized play off the ball, Cessna kept Park Place off the scoreboard until the second chukker when Matt Coppola began to make an impact coming forward in the game, scoring one goal and assisting on another to push the game into a 2-2 tie. With very few whistles to stop play, Cessna and Park Place continued to battle in open play, with Cessna giving Park Place difficulties, finishing the first half with a 4-2 lead with three of their goals coming from Ferrario.

The momentum of the game instantly switched at the start of the second half with Park Place finding the performance that carried them through the C.V. Whitney Cup®. Scoring four unanswered goals in the fourth chukker in a complete team performance, Park Place quickly doubled their goal total from the first half in just seven minutes to take their first lead of the game. With the ball continuing to stay in the offensive half for Park Place, they extended their run to six goals before Mariano Obregon finally ended the stretch. Heavily outshooting Cessna, Park Place’s Ulloa completed a dominant second half, scoring all three goals in the sixth chukker to capture the 11-6 victory.

Though Park Place won the game 11-6, Cessna was leading at halftime. ©Alex Pacheco

Leading throughout, Scone showcased a versatile offense that dominated from the field in the first half and then moved to the penalty line in the second half where they scored five of their six goals to overwhelm Santa Clara. Peke Gonzalez finished a perfect 6 for 6 from the penalty line, all from the 30 and 40-yard lines while Adolfo Cambiaso displayed the proficient passing ability that led his team’s efficient attack in the convincing five-goal victory.

Wasting little time from the opening throw-in, Scone pressured Santa Clara with a textbook play from Adolfo Cambiaso as Poroto Cambiaso and Gonzalez cleared space for the 10-goaler, who hit a perfect pass to Gonzalez to open the scoring. Building a quick 3-0 lead, Scone kept Santa Clara pinned in their defensive half early, relying on the scoring from Poroto Cambiaso and Gonzalez. A renewed fight from Santa Clara in the second chukker, led by a goal and an assist from Vercellino, cut the deficit to two, but the end of the half displayed Scone’s father-son duo at their best. Finishing the half shooting 6 for 8 from the field, Scone received two goals from Poroto Cambiaso, both on the receiving end of passes from Adolfo Cambiaso to exit the half with a 7-4 lead.

Adolfo Cambiaso displayed superb passing ability that helped to seal the victory for Scone. ©Alex Pacheco

With the ball primarily kept moving in open play, the pace of the game slowed in the second half as Santa Clara fought to make any Scone scoring chance difficult, but the result was foul trouble that sent Gonzalez to the penalty line. Three Penalty 2 conversions along with a Penalty 3 conversion for Gonzalez over the fourth and fifth chukkers gave Scone a commanding six-goal lead as Santa Clara struggled to keep Scone away from their own goal. Despite three goals each from Vercellino and Miguel Novillo Astrada, as well as scoring in every chukker, Santa Clara could not match the offensive firepower of Scone in the 13-8 defeat.

Peke Gonzalez scored 7 goals for Scone. ©Alex Pacheco

Polo matches at IPC are not open to the general public except for ticketed Sunday brunch. Online viewing is available with a subscription at globalpolo.com.

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.
Click here to learn more about the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.